LUBBOCK, Texas – The Tennessee women’s golf team punched its ticket to the NCAA Championships after placing fourth in the NCAA Lubbock Regional at The Rawls Course.
UT has now reached the NCAA Championships for the 15th time in program history and the first time since 2019.
“I am incredibly proud of this team,” said head coach Diana Cantú. “They worked so hard to get to this point. We had a lot of up and downs this season, but they just owned their strengths, focused on the good things and played free and went out there and took it today.
“I couldn’t ask for a better way of ending this tournament. They just stayed so strong. It was really incredible to watch. I am very happy for them. They came together as a team in an amazing way. They played for each other and they believed in themselves.”
The Lady Vols concluded the NCAA Lubbock Regional in fourth place after climbing three spots up the leaderboard in round three. Tennessee’s third-round score of 7-under tied for the second-best 18-hole score on day three.
Martina Lopez-Lanchares came in clutch for the Big Orange in the final round after carding a 6-under 66, which tied for the best 18-hole round in the tournament. The junior shot a 32 (-4) on the front nine and followed it up with a bogey-free 34 (-2) on the back. Lopez-Lanchares concluded her stellar round with a birdie on the 18th hole to tie for fifth place individually.
Freshman Kyra Van Kan also turned in a scorecard with red numbers Tuesday, firing a bogey-free 3-under 69. She concluded the regional with a top-20 finish.
Junior Manassanan Chotikabhukkana also put in a strong performance in round three, notching an even-par 72 to tie for 48th. Chotikabhukkana rallied on the back nine, posting nine straight pars.
Sophomore Sofie Engeseth contributed Tennessee’s final counting score in round three, a 2-over 74, to finish the tournament tied for 36th.
Senior Bailey Davis ended the regional tied for 34th after shooting a 75 in the final round.
UP NEXT: The Lady Vols will head to Carlsbad, California, to take part in the NCAA Championships which run from May 16-21 at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa.
TEAM LEADERBOARD
1. Wake Forest, 862 (-2)
2. Texas, 866 (+2)
3. Iowa State, 874 (+10)
4. Tennessee, 886 (+22)
T5. Purdue, 889 (+25) – advanced via playoff
____________________________________________
T5. Texas A&M, 889 (+25)
7. UC Davis, 890 (+26)
8. Arizona, 892 (+2)
9. Florida Gulf Coast, 902 (+38)
10. Campbell, 907 (+43)
11. Tarleton State, 918 (+54)
12. Texas A&M Corpus Christi, 960 (+96)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD
T5. Martina Lopez-Lanchares, 73-78-66—217 (+1)
T18. Kyra Van Kan, 78-73-69—220 (+4)
T34. Bailey Davis, 76-76-75—227 (+11)
T36. Sofie Engeseth, 81-73-74—228 (+12)
T48. Manassanan Chotikabhukkana, 78-81-72—231 (+15)
